Odyssey of Iska is the fourteenth album by American jazz composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter, released on Blue Note Records in 1971.
Odyssey of Iska was the outcome of the second recording session with Shorter that was produced by Duke Pearson. (The first session, Moto Grosso Feio on April 3, 1970, was not issued until 1974.) With the exception of Ron Carter there was a completely different line-up, although with a similar instrumentation: Shorter's saxophone as the only horn, guitar instead of keyboards, two double bass players, and various percussion instruments including marimba and vibraphone. The same emphasis on percussion is also found on a recording date led by Joe Zawinul only some two weeks before, on August 10, where Wayne Shorter had a guest appearance on "Double Image" (released on Zawinul).
Wayne Shorter had just married Ana Maria Patricio, whom he had met four years earlier. The name "Iska" in the album title refers to their daughter. She was born around the time the record was made.
One of the percussionists on Odyssey of Iska, Frank Cuomo, is the father of rock group Weezer's frontman, Rivers Cuomo. The other drummers are Billy Hart and Alphonse Mouzon.
All compositions by Shorter, except "Depois do Amor, o Vazio" written by Bobby Thomas.
- "Wind" – 8:00
- "Storm" – 8:22
- "Calm" – 3:25
- "Depois do Amor, o Vazio" (After Love, Emptiness) (Bobby Thomas) – 11:40
- "Joy" – 9:00
Personnel
Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Gene Bertoncini – guitar
Ron Carter, Cecil McBee – bass
Billy Hart, Alphonse Mouzon – drums
Frank Cuomo – drums, percussion
David Friedman – vibraphone, marimba
